5 Winter TV Shows We Can’t Wait To See

Christmas and New Year’s have come and gone, and it’s easy to feel a little down in the dumps: two more months of gray weather and no holidays to look forward to until Valentine’s Day. Luckily for us, there are a bunch of great TV shows returning this winter that are sure to perk up your mood. Here’s out list of five we’re especially excited about.

Though the Girls premiere drew mixed reviews last year, by now the HBO comedy series has become required viewing. After last season’s surprising finale, we can’t wait to see where Lena Dunham takes us next in the January 13th premiere.

The super popular British series will return this Sunday and we’ve been waiting with bated (or a least Bates-ed) breath for the show’s return. True, we’ve had Dowager Countess memes and Stephen Colbert’s “Breaking Abbey” to pass the time, but it’s just not the same.

3. Merlin

The BBC series (which begins its fifth season on Syfy this Friday) tells the story of Merlin and Arthur as youthful rivals, and it’s been surprisingly addictive. We’re hoping its fifth and final season casts a spell over us as well.

4. Archer

Last season saw a mission to space, androids, drag racing and Burt Reynolds dating Archer’s mother. Adam Reed’s series is getting increasingly inventive (and hilarious) as it goes along, so we’re looking forward to the FX show’s return this January 17th.

5. Californication

If you’re dreaming of warm weather this winter, don’t worry: Showtime’s sexy series is returning January 13th. We don’t know what new erotic adventures Hank will be getting up to, but we do know we’re excited to find out. Plus, we can imagine we’re sitting in the California sun for an hour each week.